Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether directors of public health will be able to determine whether staggering the start of the term is required based on the covid-19 social distancing measures put in place by universities for September 2021.

Universities have worked extremely hard to ensure their facilities are COVID-secure and are as safe as possible for students to return to campus. As autonomous institutions it is for universities to determine their own provision, including arrangements for the start of term, taking account of any government guidance.

We expect universities to work closely with local Directors of Public Health, particularly on their plans for managing outbreaks, to keep students and staff as safe as possible.

The government will announce further easing of restrictions at Step 4 of the roadmap, including the outcome of the review of social distancing measures, which will be no earlier than 21 June 2021. In light of these developments, we will continue to work with the sector via the mission groups and the Higher Education Taskforce on plans for the autumn, taking account of the latest public health advice. We will update the higher education guidance in due course to support the return of students for the new academic year.